Feed apparatus.



No. 792,275. PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905. P. M. G. 111-: LA ROGHEFOUGAULD &M. J. ME'LAAID. FEED APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.18, 1905.

UNITED STATES Patented June 13, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANQOIS MARIE GASTON DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD AND MAURICE JUSTIN MELAND, OFPARIS, FRANCE.

FEED APPARATUS- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.792,275, dated June 13, 1905.

Application filed March 18, 1905. Serial No. 250,737.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANQOIS MARIE GAs- TON DE LA ROOHEFOUGAULD, aresident of 4 Rue Auguste Vacquerie, and MAURICE J USTIN IWIELAND, aresident of 4 Rue de Calais, Paris, in the Republic of France, citizensof the Republic of France, have invented a new and useful Liquid-FeedApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic apparatus serving to maintain asubstantially constant level in either a steam-generator or in ahot-water boiler for heating apartments or in a bath-heater or otherboiler or in any other receptacle or vessel.

The principle of the invention consists in interposing between the tankor the conduit which constitutes the source of supply and the boiler (orother vessel) in which it is desired to maintain a constant level a feedapparatus in constant communication both with the one and the other bytwo orifices situated, respectively, beneath and above a doublediaphragm to which an admission-valve is fitted in such a way that abovethe upper diaphragm there will always be liquid at the same level as inthe boiler and that when this level falls to a predetermined extent thediminution of the weight of liquid on the upper diaphragm induces thelatter to rise under the action of the constant pressure of the feed,and consequently the valve to open, which causes the necessary quantityof liquid to pass into the boiler for reestablishing the normal level,and thus makes the diaphragms fall again and close the feed-valve. Thespecial arrangement of the valve and of the two diaphragms of difi'erentarea which are fixed thereto insures the complete and rapid opening ofsuch valve.

In the case where it is a question of feeding a steam-generator or ahot-water boiler the system presents this advantage, that substantiallythe same temperature exists in the feed apparatus as in the latter, asit is in free communication with same, and that the liquid which flowstherefrom in order to enter the boiler is further reheated during itstravel by a double jacket in which the steam given ofi from the masscirculates, so that the feed, which is, moreover, introduced in smalland frequent quantities, does not appreciably modify the operation ofthe boiler.

The feed apparatus does not require any safety apparatus, because itswater and steam chambers communicate with the water and steam chambersof the boiler and that the level of the liquid is situated beneath thetop of the latter.

The conduit which forms a steamjacket round the central conduit by whichthe feedwater passes to the boiler is united tothe upper tube of thefeed apparatus by a connection of a special construction composed of amovable part which it sufiices to slide along in order to permit ofaccess to the connection of this Water-conduit.

The accompanying drawing represents the feed apparatus in verticalsection, same being shown as applied to the feed of a boiler containinghot water and steam. On the lefthand side of the axis the valve, as wellas the diaphragms to which it is fixed, is shown in the closed position,while on the right of the axis it is the open position which isindicated. Further, on the left of the axis the connection uniting thesteam-jacket to the upper part of the receptacle is represented in itsnormal position, while on the right hand its movable part is indicatedas being slipped up in the manner to permit of access to the connectionof the feed-conduit.

The apparatus consists of a body, preferably of cast-iron, formed of apart a, serving as the receptacle for the liquid which is to weight thediaphragms and presenting at its upper part a tube a of a base-plate aand of a lower cap a The water entering directly from the conduit orpreferably from an interposed tank in which a constant level ismaintained by means, for example, of a ball-cock passes into the lowercap a by a conduit or pipe 6. A tube 0, starting from the bottom of thebody (0, causes it to communicate freely with the water-space of theboiler which it is desired to feed, and another tube 61, starting fromthe side of the upper tube, establishes communication with thesteam-chamber of the said boiler. The steam may, further, escape throughan annular space provided between the upper tube a and the outlet-pipeof the feed-water. so as to form a steam-jacket. The tubes 0 and (Zreceive the two extremities of a water-gage indicating the level of theliquid in the boiler and in the feed apparatus.

The cap a is-provided at f with a grating or a wire-gauze sheet forarresting the impurities that the water may contain and at the bottom itterminates in a sleeve a, closed by a discharge-cap. The dischargefeed-water pipe g rests on a cut-away partition a of the base-plate, towhich it is fixed by a screw 9. Its lower cut-away extremity issurrounded by a cylindrical core g cast with it and presenting openings9 for the passage of water when the valve is open.

The valve it is composed of a cylindrical sleeve of which the upperpart, which is thinner than the lower part, slides with gentle frictionover the above-mentioned fixed core The under side of this valve when itis closed bears against a seat of greasy leather, for example. To theupper surface of the valve is fixed an annular plate 7;, on which ismounted a diaphragm a" of very thin hardened brass or other suitablematerial held in place by a pressure-plate and of which the edges areheld between a ring fitted to the body a and the base-plate a Further,to an annular plate j of smaller diameter than c' and which may be castin one with the valve another diaphragm y", preferably of greasedleather, is fixed, being held by its edges between the horizontal partof the base-plate and a pressure-ring.

It will be seen that the valve it is capable of rising and falling withthe plates 2' and j and their flexible diaphragms according to whetherthe force exerted on the lower plate 7' by the pressure of the water inthe tank exceeds that of the weight of the water which the upper plate ibears, or inversely. It should be noted that as soon as the valvecommences to open the pressure of the water in the tank acts, moreover,on the annular shoulder h of this valve, which accelerates its rising,the useful force thus exerted on the surface it being represented by thedifference between the weights of the water, which act in oppositedirections on this section. The base-plate a is pierced with an orificeat it. If by reason of a badly-formed joint or from any other accidentalcause water becomes introduced into the space included between the twoplates, this orifice will enable it to run off, and at the same timethis will indicate that there is a leakage to repair.

The connection which unites the sleeve k, forming the steam'jacket roundthe feed-water conduit, to the upper tube a of the feed apparatus, isarranged in the following manner for permitting access to the connectionof such conduit: The conduit 70, as will be seen in the drawing, doesnot descend right down to the tube a, and it is connected thereto by asleeve Z, as shown on the left-hand side of the figure. If it isnecessary to obtain access to the connection g, this sleeve is caused toslide upward, as indicated on the righthand side of the figure, and theinterior connection is then entirely uncovered. In order to insure atight joint of the two ends of the movable sleeve, there is fixed in thehead of the tube a a ring Z, forming a packing-box, in the groove ofwhich the lower extremity of the sleeve l is forced by means of ascrewthreaded ring Z with an interior rim. In its turn the upperextremity of the sleeve presents on its inner face a groove in which apacking is inserted, which is compressed, by means of a cap Z by turninga screw-threaded ring Z on the sleeve.

The conduit 9 is held centrally by means of a cross-bar m, which isscrewed into the above-named ring Z and bears on the upper face of thetube a. This conduit g opens into the upper part of the boiler, like thesteamconduit in.

From the preceding description it is easy to understand the operation ofthe apparatus, which constitutes a true balance in which the pressure ofthe liquid in the feed-tank or the pressure in the conduit, as the casemay be, acts in opposition to the Weight of the liquid contained in thefeed apparatus and which is no other than the liquid itself of theboiler or other receptacle which it is desired to feed and alwaysmaintains the same level in the two spaces, seeing that they are in freecommunication with each other. As long as the level in the receptacle tobe fed (boiler, for example) does not fall below the limit which hasbeen fixed the weight of the volume of liquid contained in the feedapparatus b'ears upon the upper plate 2' and on its flexible diaphragmwith sufficient force to keep it depressed, and consequently to maintainthe valve closed; but when the level falls below such limit in thereceptacle to be fed and at the same time in the feed apparatus thedecrease of the weight corresponding to this diminution of volumeproduces the effect that the force exerted from the bottom upward on thelower plate 3' and on its diaphragm by the pressure of the waterproceeding from the tank or the conduit becomes preponderant and causesthe valve to open, raising it and the two plates and the liquid which isabove same. As soon as the valve begins to rise the water penetratesinto the conduit g by the openings g at the same time that it begins topress against the annular shoulder h of the valve, so as to make itrapidly open to the full extent. During the whole of its passage throughthe conduit 9 the liquid is heated by contact with the metal, which issurrounded by warm liquid at its lower part and by steam at its upperpart right up to the boiler, so that it is delivered IIO into the latterat an elevated temperature. when the liquidhas attained its normallevel, the weight of the volume borne by the plate z' again becomespreponderant, and the valve again closes.

It will be understood that it is possible to render the apparatus moreor less sensitive at willin other words, to cause the feed-valve to risefor a smaller or larger variation of level by varying the areas of theplates with diaphragms and then pressures which act thereon.

We claim 1. In combination, in an apparatus serving to feed liquid to areceptacle so as to maintain therein a substantially constant level; achamber; two movable diaphragms of diiferent area, situated one abovethe other and dividing the said chamber; a valve fixed to both of thetwo said diaphragms; a communication between the space situated abovesaid diaphragms and the receptacle which it is desired to feed; acommunication between the space situated beneath the said diaphragms anda source of liquid under pressure; a feed-com duit andadmission-openings in this conduit controlled by the said valve.

2. In combination, in an apparatus serving to feed liquid to areceptacle so as to maintain therein a substantially constant level; achamber; two movable diaphragms of different area, situated one abovethe other and dividing the said chamber; a valve fixed to both of thetwo said diaphragms; a communication between the space situated abovesaid diaphragms and the water-space of the receptacle which it isdesired to feed; a communication between this same space of the feederand the steam-space of the receptacle to be fed; a communication betweenthe space situated beneath the said diaphragms and a source of liquidunder pressure; a feed-conduit and admission-openings in this conduitcontrolled by the said valve.

3. In combination, in an apparatus serving to feed liquid to areceptacle so as to maintain therein a substantially constant level;achamher; two movable diaphragms of different area, situated one abovethe other and dividing said chamber; a valve fixed to both of the twosaid diaphragms; a communication between the space situated above saiddiaphragms and the water-space of the receptacle which it is desired tofeed; a communication between the space situated beneath the saiddiaphragms and a source of liquid under pressure; a feed-conduit;openings of admission in this conduit controlled by the said Valve; anda tube surrounding this conduit and connecting the upper part of thespace of the. feeder to the steam-space of the receptacle to be fed.

4. In combination, in an apparatus serving to feed liquid to areceptacle so as to maintain therein a substantially constant level; achamber; two movable diaphragms of V difierent areas, situated one abovethe other and dividing said chamber; a valve fixed to both of the twosaid diaphragms, consisting in a tubular piece closed at top, open atthe bottom and sliding on the feed-conduit, this valve presentinginteriorly an annular shoulder which is exposed to the pressure of thefeed liquid when the said valve is opened; a communication between thespace situated above said diaphragms and the receptacle it is desired tofeed; a communication between the space situated beneath the saiddiaphragms and a source of liquid under pressure; a feed-conduit andopenings of admission in this conduit controlled by the said valve.

5. In combination, in an apparatus serving to feed liquid to areceptacle so as to maintain therein a substantially constant level; achamber; two movable diaphragms of difierent area, situated one abovethe other and dividing the said chamber; a valve fixed to both of thetwo said diaphragms; a communication between the space situated abovesaid diaphragms and the receptacle which it is desired to feed; acommunication between the space situated beneath said diaphragms and asource of liquid under pressure; a feed-conduit; ad mission-openings inthis conduit controlled by the said valve; and an orifice placing thebottom of the space included between the two said diaphragms incommunication with the exterior.

6. In combination, in an apparatus serving to feed liquid to areceptacle so as to maintain therein asubstantially constant level; achamber; two movable diaphragms of different area, situated. one abovethe other and dividing the said chamber; a valve fixed to both of thetwo said diaphragms; a communication between the space situated abovesaid diaphragms and the water-space of the receptacle which it isdesired to feed; a communication between the space situated beneath saiddiaphragms and a source of liquid under pressure; a feed-conduit;admission-openings in this conduit controlled by the said valve; a tubesurrounding this conduit and connecting the upper part of the space ofthe feeder to the steam-chamber of the receptacle to be fed; and aclose-fitting connection capable of sliding on this steam-tube.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signedour names, in presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of March, 1905.

FRANQOIS MARIE GASTON DE LA RQOIIEFOUCAULD. MAURICE JUSTIN MELAND.

Witnesses:

CHARLES ASSl, ALGIDE FABE.

